Economic Diversification in the Sierra Tecapa-Chinameca, El Salvador

Background

Lutheran World Relief works to strengthen local food systems and thereby provide rural families with sustained access to healthy food. In El Salvador, LWR takes a two-pronged approach to improving local food systems. This includes support to increase and diversify crop production for consumption and sale, and strengthening producer associations and community-based organizations to better manage agricultural investments and access support from government agricultural programs.

The project focuses on strengthening economic alternatives in the Sierra Tecapa-Chinameca region by stimulating the agriculture value chains and food security initiatives, while also developing an agro-ecological tourism industry within the area.

One of FUNDE’s innovative approaches for this project has been to promote public-private discussions in which economic actors and local authorities meet and deliberate about how to promote the sustainable development of the Sierra Tecapa-Chinameca area.

Goal:

Improve the competitivity of economic actors in the Sierra Tecapa-Chinameca, with the active participation of small producers, entrepreneurs in the tourism sector, local governments, women and youth.

Objectives

Strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations in the territory to promote new economic activities and climate change adaptation approaches, through their participation in public-private forums for dialogue and decision-making.

Improve market access and linkages for at least 7 economic initiatives in coffee, tourism, beekeeping, and fruits & vegetables, generating a 15% increase in income from sales in at least 75% of these value chains.

Guarantee the participation of women and youth in economic activities and civic participation, including creating 10 new enterprises led by women and youth, and involving 200 women and youth in the Territorial Development Council.